School of Medicine

Complementary medicine center established

The University's School of Medicine has created a Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research on Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease, using a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Prakash Nagarkatti, associate dean for basic science at the School of Medicine, will lead the study on the mechanism by which resveratrol, a compound in the skin of red grapes, might help treat multiple sclerosis. Mitzi Nagarkatti, chair of the medical school's Department of Pathology and Microbiology, will study how a compound in hemp might be useful in treating autoimmune hepatitis. Lorne Hofseth, an assistant professor in the S.C. College of Pharmacy, will study the anti-inflammatory properties of American ginseng in treating colitis.

“One day, a compound in red grapes might be just what the doctor orders to treat multiple sclerosis,” Prakash Nagarkatti said. “Colitis might be treated with American ginseng, and a compound from hemp oil could treat autoimmune hepatitis.”

Prakash Nagarkatti said research to explore the benefits and risks of alternative and complementary medicine is vital because Americans spend billions of dollars each year on treatments and products outside conventional medicine.

“We need to know what's effective,” he said, “and what products and treatments complement traditional medicine. The centers established by NIH are focused on the biological effects of specific compounds from plants and how they affect the treatment of specific diseases.”